COMMUNITY FORUM

If billbwb's swipe was directed at me it was misdirected and uncalled for.

And I have nothing to apologize for or admit any 'wrong' to.

First, based upon the initial 'evidence' presented by the OP, it was NOT clear that there was a 'paint problem' at all. The symptoms clearly could have been caused by something else.

After further clarification and technical info from the OP and others, I can see how the problem might be paint related.

Second, I am NOT now nor ever have advocated the use of exterior paint for interior use or vice versa....Nor am I flaunting 'conventional wisdom' by voicing my objections to other's opinions about the practice. "I" would not and do not use exterior for interior application if for nothing else but 'sheen' reasons, BUT there certainly is no unanimous 'conventional wisdom' or 'consensus' when it comes to the issue of using exterior paint on interior walls as you suggest there is.

I have seen this topic debated for nearly 3 decades now and the jury remains 'out' concerning 'problems' associated with using exterior paint interiorly with devotees on either position claiming the moral high road based only upon the fact that they believe their position is correct and nothing more. So I won't belabor the point...Because there is no consentual point to belabor.

That said, it appears that by further explaining the problem, answering the objections of those who propose alternative possibilities, viewing additional evidence, and considering the opinion from a variety of 'professionals', a rather reasonable and probable conclusion seems to have been drawn.

I still have reservations about the alleged "cause" of the paint odor because it does not seem to address all the facts.

But be that as it may, if paint removal, encapsulation, or simple repainting resolves the OP's issues, who cares what I think or thought anyhow?

Especially since I will have been happy to learn something from those who had offered the correct advice....and even those who offered no advice at, all for that matter....

Anyway, Mr. Homebld had much to say on the topic until the "smoking gun" post was presented. Then he fell silent until flushed out and somewhat forced to admit "After further clarification and technical info from the OP and others, I can see how the problem might be paint related."

Note even in the face of all the evidence presented the desperate clinging to his guns using the word "might."

Finally a note on conventional wisdom. If the world's painting manufacturers's designation "INTERIOR" meaning inside the house and "EXTERIOR" meaning outside is not conventional enough, then the Homeblds of the world be praised!

p.s. If Homebld truly wants to know "who cares what I thought anyhow" why does he go to the trouble of giving us 10 more paragraphs of his thoughts?

Anonymous

07:06AM | 03/07/04

Homebld does a good deal of pontificating, followed by much backpeddling and then a tiny bit of admission (albiet most begrudging) that he was off the mark (Let's not use that nastly lable "wrong".)

Well, you get what you pay for with painting advice from a general contractor who would have you gut your house with electricians, plumbers, sewer and gas companies and who knows whom else before tackling the relatively insane idea that exterior paint used indoors could be a problem.

There is a lot to pick apart with Homebld's logic. For instance his comment that mildewcide in extreior paint just must be the same thing as mildewcide in interior paint. Again a wide gap in logic he throws mightily out there then fails to fill.

It is also absurd to suggest there is no consensus on using exterior paint indoors. I guess if you are mostly polling a bunch of general contractors such a lack of consensus may be the case. I would love to see the documentation otherwise!

Finally he never did say why in the world someone would want to use exterior paint on interior surface. For all the supposed research Homebld has done and the many words he sprayed over this message topic, he never did answer the challenge of presenting a REASON to do it.

I think 5slb6 said it best a few posts back: "I know painters that do this and the reason is that alot of exterior paints cover better than interior paints so in order to cut corners this is what they do."

Anyone else with something specific to say to the contrary. Please, no mind-numbing off-topic rants.

Anonymous

08:31AM | 03/07/04

I have been a painting contractor for 12 years and the only people I'm aware of who advocate or defend using exterior paint on interior surfaces are (some) general contractors, homeowners with a bunch of leftover exterior paint and booze-drenched journeyman painters and people like them who think they know something about painting but really do not.

Why Homebld is ready to call in the calvary of contractors before looking at the paint situation in this homeowner's case is anyone's guess. And there are other gaps in his logic. For instance, I notice Homebld goes out of his way to punctuate his point about mildewcide being used as an additive in interior as well as in exterior paint. From there I assume we are to cross the bridge that mildewcide in one must be mildewcide in another. I offer Homebld not quit his day job anytime soon in favor of work in science.

Also it is absurd to suggest their is no conventional wisdom concerning exterior paint being used on interiors. Of course among the booze-drenched journeyman crowd and their ilk, I assume there is some debate. Otherwise let's hear the specific sources!

For all his supposed fact-based research on the topic, I notice Homebld never does address the question WHY use exterior paint on interiors? He alludes to a supposed great number of people out there who think it's okay. How about some substance to back that up?

I agree with Billbwb that it is kind of lame to weigh in so heavily at one point of a discussion and fail to show up later when the jury is in.

But as far as using exterior paint on interiors, I think 5slb6's post a few back says it best: "I know painters that do this and the reason is that alot of exterior paints cover better than interior paints so in order to cut corners this is what they do."

I would only add that if (for only who knows) whatever reason you decide to use exterior paint indoors and then have an odor relatively soon thereafter, by all means suspect the paint.

I have been a painting contractor for 12 years and the only people I'm aware of who advocate or defend using exterior paint on interior surfaces are (some) general contractors, homeowners with a bunch of leftover exterior paint and booze-drenched journeyman painters and people like them who think they know something about painting but really do not.

Why Homebld is ready to call in the calvary of contractors before looking at the paint situation in this homeowner's case is anyone's guess. And there are other gaps in his logic. For instance, I notice he goes out of his way to punctuate a point about mildewcide being used as an additive in interior as well as in exterior paint. From there I assume we are to cross the bridge that mildewcide in one must be mildewcide in another. I offer Homebld not quit his day job anytime soon in favor of work in science.

Also it is absurd to suggest there is no conventional wisdom concerning exterior paint being used on interiors. Of course among the booze-drenched journeyman crowd and their ilk, I assume there is some debate. Otherwise let's hear the specific sources!

For all his supposed fact-based research on the topic, I notice Homebld never does address the question WHY use exterior paint on interiors? He alludes to what seems to be a supposed great number of people out there who think it's okay. Ok, that honestly is interesting. Now let's have some names. And let them tell us all WHY they do it.

I think 5slb6's post a few back says it best: "I know painters that do this and the reason is that a lot of exterior paints cover better than interior paints so in order to cut corners this is what they do."

I would only add that if (for only who knows) whatever reason you decide to use exterior paint indoors and then have an odor relatively soon thereafter, by all means suspect the paint.

Hello Everyone! I am the original homeowner who posted the original message. I must say that this bantering back and forth is something that I never expected when I posted way back when. I would like everyone to know that yesterday the room and hall were repainted, based on the recommendations of the technical staff at Benjamin Moore. Thanks to the wonderful and more than ethical painter that we had originally hired, and the recommendation that a low sheen interior enamel (100% acrylic), and "acrashield" tinted to the original color be used, the job is now re-done. What my painter told us is very true. He told me that any painter can give out a list of references for the best jobs that he's done, but it's the problem jobs without the "easy answers" and how he handles those that really sets one painter/contractor apart from the other. I suspect based on some of the above posts, that had I used one particular person to do the job, he would have been the one to come back and tell me that it "wasnt his problem." Luckily, I happened to hire someone who without any "proof" was willing to re-do the job and see. I'll let you know how it turns out. What I can say is that both yesterday and today here in TX. the weather was warm and the windows in my home were open. No odor at all other than the new paint odor. We will see what happens over the next few days. I'll let all you professionals "fight it out". I just want the smell gone in my home and this nightmare to finally be over!!

Anonymous

01:47PM | 03/07/04

Thanks for the follow-up.

Really it was not so much a fight as it was an opportunity to set a reluctant someone straight--or at least attempt to limit what questionable information that person may pass on.

Still, I would not be surprised to find Homebld sticking to his guns. I mean, why let the facts get in the way? They never figured much in his point-of-view before.

I'm glad to see the homeowner took the path of least resistance by going for the most obvious thing first. And in any event it's nice to see a problem solved!

One final note on exterior paint and interiors. Exterior paint is unquestionably formulated much differently than interior paint. When you coat a surface, the paint doesn't just sit there like a good dog. Lots of invisible chemicals interact with the surface. Others escape. Exterior paints are formulated to be tougher than their interior counterparts, and thier different, "tougher" chemicals factored to escape into the outside air. Word to the wise.

O.K., for all of you that have been waiting for the final outcome of our ordeal, or for those of you just hoping this bickering comes to an end here goes.....the smell has not come back since the acrashield and new paint were used. We have had numerous days this week that were warm and when I was sure that I would have to deal with it again. I cannot begin to tell you how happy we are to know that it was the paint and that we wont have to wake each day, wondering when the odor will come upon us or hoping that noone comes for an unexpected visit! May my nightmare hopefully be a warning to all homeowners and "true professionals" out there that interior paint used indoors has caused atleast one homeowner months of unecessary distress and concern for her families health, along with money spent on numerous troubleshooters in her home who diligently were trying to figure all of this out. I hope that our ordeal might be a wake up call to those "doubters" out there. Thanks again for all of your messages. A happy Texas homeowner...